Game of Thrones won't have much celebrating to do at this year's Golden Globes ceremony because the HBO fantasy only received one nomination. The series officially came to end this past May with the conclusion of its eighth season. The 77th Golden Globe Awards in January will mark the end of Game of Thrones' eligibility, and it seems the Hollywood Foreign Press Association didn't give Game of Thrones season 8 much love.
Expectations were extremely high for the final season of Game of Thrones. Patience was already wearing thin in the 20-month gap between season 7 and the arrival of the final set of episodes. Even though season 8 saw major events like the Battle of Winterfell and the siege of King's Landing, the conclusion as a whole fell flat for many people. Ratings remained high but reception floundered as many viewers felt like the final handful of episodes were rushed. Much of the backlash also stemmed from the questionable character development and wastefulness of key figures.
Despite the overwhelming distaste for Game of Thrones season 8, the HBO epic received a record-breaking 32 Emmy nominations. The series ended up winning Outstanding Drama Series at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards in September. Actor Peter Dinklage also picked up a win for Outstanding ing Actor in a Drama Series with his portrayal as Tyrion Lannister. The Emmy nominations could, at times, indicate which direction other award shows will take, including the Golden Globes. The HFPA, however, wasn't enamored by Game of Thrones' swan song. Only Kit Harington was given a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama. But the fact is, the Golden Globes never really cared for Game of Thrones in the past either.
Why Game Of Thrones Season 8 Scored Only One Golden Globe Nomination
Considering Game of Thrones' final season scored a record-breaking amount of nominations for the Emmys, it might come as a surprise that the series was snubbed at the Golden Globes. But when looking back at the show's run, the HFPA never honored the HBO series as much as the Television Academy, which votes on the Emmy nominations. Game of Thrones was previously nominated for Best Drama Series at the Golden Globes in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 but it has never won in the category. Just because Game of Thrones won for the same category at the Emmys this year, the HFPA obviously felt like the final season didn't reach its potential to garner even a Best Drama Series nomination.
The HFPA has been known to share the same zeitgeist of the general public when it comes to the buzz surrounding a project. Rather than celebrate Game of Thrones for reaching a conclusion with ant action-packed finale season, the HFPA took into the disappointment and backlash surrounding the series. To some viewers, awarding a show that carries so much backlash could lessen the reputation that comes with holding the prestigious trophy. To avoid any kind of criticism, the Golden Globes decided to follow along with the public perception that Game of Thrones failed in reaching expectations for its final season. They couldn't hide from Harington's performance but with a cast so large, their noticeable amount of snub is very telling in of how they viewed the concluding season.